ATIP:
2023 March NACI Change of recommendations

https://ivim.substack.com/p/since-last-week-public-health-is

The exact recommendation from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), which was published last week is quoted below:

NACI now recommends that:

o Starting in the spring of 2023, an additional booster dose may be offered 6 or more months from the last COVID-19 vaccine dose or infection to the following individuals who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19: (Discretionary NACI recommendation)

• Adults 80 years of age and older

• Adults 65 to 79 years of age, particularly if they do not have a known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection

• Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors or those with complex medical care needs

• Adults 18 years of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment

Additional quotes from the new NACI statement, entitled “Guidance on an additional COVID-19 booster dose in the spring of 2023 for individuals at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19” further clarify the new recommendations:

• Spring 2023 COVID-19 booster dose recommendations have a focus on populations who are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization and death.

• Age is a very important risk factor for severe disease. The risk of hospitalization and intensive care admission increases with age.

So, does the provided quote from Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer:

“…Given the current COVID-19 epidemiology, including the relatively stable disease activity we have observed in recent months, and generally high levels of antibodies against COVID-19 from vaccines and/or infection among Canadians, NACI is currently not recommending an additional bivalent booster for the general population this spring. However, individuals at highest risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19, including older adults and individuals considered immunocompromised, may be offered a spring bivalent booster dose… “

ATIP request:

Please provide all data, data analysis reports, memos, and emails that led to NO LONGER recommending COVID vaccine boosters for children and the general population in the latest NACI Guidance, which was published on March 3, 2023 (https://wwwcanada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/vaccines-immunization/national-advisory-committee-immunization-summary-guidance-additional-covid-19-booster-dose-spring-2023-individuals-high-risk-severe-illness-due-covid-19-march-3-2023/summary.pdf ). For clarity - please also provide all data, data analysis reports, memos, emails that led to still recommending these COVID vaccine boosters for children and general population in the previously issue NACI Guidance, which was published January 20, 2023. (https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/guidance-covid-19-vaccine-booster-doses-initial-considerations-2023/guidance-covid-19-vaccine-booster-doses-initial-considerations-2023.pdf ). 

ATIP response: